What is PBE?
PBE is an approach to curriculm design, instruction, and assessment practices intended to improve learning outcomes. Unlike instructional approaches based on the amount of time students work on academically related tasks (referred to as 'seat time'), PBE is rooted in students demonstrating competency on specific learning tasks, which make up curricular standards. In this way, assessments play a key role in the learning process as the evidence of mastery (i.e., the metrics) and means by which students advance. Given this larger role, proficiency scales (or performance scales) are often used by teachers to plan lessons and develop assessments.
